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The Signal attack plan messages: What we do (and don't) know
Read full article: The Signal attack plan messages: What we do (and don't) knowThe revelation that President Donald Trump’s most senior national security officials posted the specifics of a military attack to a chat group that included a journalist hours before the attack took place has raised many questions.

Chick-fil-A will no longer donate to anti-LGBTQ organizations
Read full article: Chick-fil-A will no longer donate to anti-LGBTQ organizationsAlex Wong/Getty Images(CNN) - Chick-fil-A is making major changes to its charitable foundation, ending donations to two organizations that have been criticized for being anti-LGBTQ. That list no longer includes the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). In 2018, the Chick-fil-A foundation donated $1.65 million to the FCA and $115,000 to The Salvation Army, the company revealed Monday. However, the Salvation Army says its services are available to all people, and the organization strongly refutes accusations that it is anti-LGBTQ. "In addition to refraining from financially supporting anti-LGBTQ organizations, Chick-fil-A still lacks policies to ensure safe workplaces for LGBTQ employees and should unequivocally speak out against the anti-LGBTQ reputation that their brand represents," said Drew Anderson, GLAAD's director of campaigns and rapid response.

Rick Perry 'didn't see a problem' talking to Giuliani about Ukraine
Read full article: Rick Perry 'didn't see a problem' talking to Giuliani about UkraineAlex Wong/Getty Images(CNN) - US Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Friday he "didn't see a problem" with being asked by President Donald Trump to speak with Rudy Giuliani about matters involving Ukraine. "As the Governor of Texas, I used people outside of government all the time to get me information," Perry said. In May, Perry led the US delegation to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky's inauguration, where his conversation with the new leader has raised the interest of House Democrats conducting the impeachment inquiry. "We heard corruption in almost every conversation that we had talking about Ukraine and whether or not President Zelensky was going to come over here," Perry said. "Because President Trump wasn't going to send American money to a country that had a history of being corrupt, and he was hammering that.

House subpoenas Perry in impeachment inquiry
Read full article: House subpoenas Perry in impeachment inquiryAlex Wong/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON (CNN) - House Democrats on Thursday issued a subpoena to Energy Secretary Rick Perry for documents related to the Trump administration's contacts with Ukraine as part of the ongoing House impeachment inquiry. The subpoena was issued by the House Intelligence Committee in consultation with the House Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees. A letter sent to Perry by the House Democratic chairmen of those three committees states that "public reports have raised questions about any role you may have played in conveying or reinforcing the President's stark message to the Ukrainian President." Last week, Perry pledged to work with lawmakers looking into the whistleblower complaint. "I'll just briefly say we're going to work with Congress and answer all their questions," Perry said at a department event.

Senator calls for Pompeo's salary to be withheld
Read full article: Senator calls for Pompeo's salary to be withheldPhoto by Alex Wong/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON - A progressive senator from Wisconsin has called for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's salary to be withheld until EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland is allowed to testify in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, according to a report by The Hill. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) sent a letter to Pompeo on Tuesday saying the law allows Congress to withhold compensation if a federal official prevents another government employee from communicating with "any Member, committee, or subcommittee of the Congress." The State Department blocked Sondland from testifying in his scheduled House deposition on Tuesday. In his letter, Pocan referred to a piece of legislature signed by Trump himself earlier this year. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Suspected white supremacist charged with racially threatening black activist
Read full article: Suspected white supremacist charged with racially threatening black activistThe indictment says McMahon expressed white supremacist views on his social media accounts. Court records dont name the activist McMahon is accused of harassing, identifying him only by the initials "D.G." McMahon, "by threat of force and violence," used his social media accounts to intimidate the activist and interfere with his campaign, the indictment alleges. The indictment doesnt elaborate on why McMahon allegedly targeted the activist or specify the nature of the alleged threats. An avowed white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing a woman and injuring dozens of other people.

Target's new loyalty program launches nationwide in October
Read full article: Target's new loyalty program launches nationwide in OctoberAlex Wong/Getty ImagesTarget's revamped loyalty program is ready for its nationwide debut. Program perks include earning 1% on Target purchases, personalized deals and early access to its sales. The expansion of the loyalty program complements Target's branded credit card, Redcard, which only a quarter of its customers use. Target is the latest retailer to revamp its loyalty program because retailers are recognizing that they need new perks to encourage them to keep returning. Macy's, Starbucks, H&M, Kohl's, Lululemon and J Crew either have launched new loyalty programs or significantly changed their existing programs within the past year.

Deaths at VA medical center in West Virginia being investigated
Read full article: Deaths at VA medical center in West Virginia being investigatedPhoto by Alex Wong/Getty Images(CNN) - The US Department of Veteran Affairs said Tuesday it is investigating 11 suspicious deaths at a medical center in West Virginia, prompting Sen. Joe Manchin to label them potential crimes. The VA said it is looking into "potential wrongdoing" at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg. Wesley R. Walls, a spokesman for the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center, said "allegations of potential misconduct you may have heard about in media reports do not involve" any current employees. "Immediately upon discovering these serious allegations, Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center leadership brought them to the attention of the VA's inspector general while putting safeguards in place to ensure the safety of each and every one of our patients," Walls said. In his statement, Manchin said he met with VA and hospital leaders to ensure a thorough investigation.

Bei Bei the giant panda turns 4, prepares for move to China
Read full article: Bei Bei the giant panda turns 4, prepares for move to ChinaDo you know Bei Bei? Getty Images Giant panda cub Bei Bei props himself up on logs at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park (Alex Wong/Getty Images). Bei Bei will soon move to China as was the plan all along, as part of a breeding agreement. Getty Images Bei Bei, at left, plays with his mother Mei Xiang in August 2016 (Alex Wong/Getty Images). Bei Bei, by the way, wont be the first giant panda to leave Washington for China.

Trump says any Jew voting Democratic is uninformed or disloyal
Read full article: Trump says any Jew voting Democratic is uninformed or disloyalAlex Wong / Getty ImagesWASHINGTON - President Donald Trump says any Jewish people who vote Democratic show "either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty." Trump commented Tuesday amid his ongoing feud with Democratic congresswomen Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Trump has taken several steps favored by Israel, while the Muslim lawmakers are outspoken critics of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. Trump calls Omar a "disaster" for Jews and says he didn't "buy" the tears Tlaib shed Monday as she discussed the situation. Israel later agreed to a humanitarian visit for Tlaib to visit her grandmother who lives in the West Bank.

Chick-fil-A adds mac and cheese to menu
Read full article: Chick-fil-A adds mac and cheese to menuAlex Wong/Getty Images(CNN) - America's favorite restaurant chain just added to its menu for the first time in three years. As of Monday, Chick-fil-A offers macaroni and cheese as a side option nationwide -- the only addition since 2016. "Mac & Cheese is the quintessential comfort food, and something we are so excited to offer our guests at Chick-fil-A," said Amanda Norris, executive director of menu and packaging in a statement. Chick-fil-A is one of the most profitable restaurant chains in the country, according to Nation's Restaurant News. The-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company.

Artists coming to UK want to be paid in dollars
Read full article: Artists coming to UK want to be paid in dollarsFergus Linehan, director of the Edinburgh International Festival, told CNN Business that many artists think the UK currency could weaken further ahead of the October 31 deadline for Brexit, eating into their earnings. The Edinburgh festival decided last November to take out insurance against a weaker pound, buying euros and dollars when one pound purchased $1.30 instead of the current $1.22. The Los Angeles Philharmonic and Berlin's Komische Oper have asked to be paid in dollars and euros, respectively. "We are doing work with people from Lebanon to Shanghai and they are also asking for tour fees to be confirmed in dollars or euros," Linehan said. The festival exchanged 1 million for dollars and euros in November, and will likely do so again next year, despite the costs and hassle.

Hong Kong stocks hit by protests, US-China trade war
Read full article: Hong Kong stocks hit by protests, US-China trade warThe Hang Seng Index closed nearly 2.9% lower, marking the biggest single-day percentage decline since the beginning of May. Tse Sui Luen Jewellery, a Hong Kong jewelry brand, plummeted 12.1%. Department store operator Lifestyle International, which owns stores in Hong Kong, tumbled 6.4%. Hong Kong authorities have warned that the city is beginning to seem insecure to foreign companies and tourists. Swiss watch makers Swatch and Richemont both recently said that sales in Hong Kong were suffering from the street protests.

Dress like a cow today for some free Chick-fil-A
Read full article: Dress like a cow today for some free Chick-fil-AAlex Wong/Getty Images)(CNN) - Tuesday is Cow Appreciation Day, when Chick-fil-A fans across the country indulge in a little light bovine cosplay for free food. The chain is offering a free breakfast, lunch or dinner entree for its customers, but there is a catch: People have to dress up like a cow to get it. What does dressing up as a cow entail? Or does one need to stoop to silicone udders to secure that sweet, sweet free meat? And yes, your suspicions are correct: Cow Appreciation Day is, in fact, the invention of Chick-fil-A.

Booker announces his ideal immigration plan
Read full article: Booker announces his ideal immigration planAlex Wong/Getty Images(CNN) - Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker on Tuesday introduced a new immigration plan that would see the New Jersey senator take executive action on a range of immigration concerns on his first day in office if his presidential bid were successful. Booker's plan would "virtually eliminate immigration detention," by shutting down "inhumane" border facilities and introducing civil detention standards that "call for detention as a last resort." Booker would also direct the Department of Homeland Security to phase out its contracts with private prison facilities over a three-year period. Despite this, Booker has largely struggled to emerge from the crowded Democratic field since announcing his presidential bid in February. "Our country must have an immigration system that reflects our values, not one that strips dignity away from people fleeing danger, threats, and violence."

Once again, Chick-fil-A is named America's favorite restaurant chain
Read full article: Once again, Chick-fil-A is named America's favorite restaurant chainFor the fourth year in a row, the Georgia-based chicken chain has been named America's favorite restaurant, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index. The chain, whose customer service is perhaps just as well-known as its food, scored an 86 on the 100-point scale, down one point from last year. Four chains tied for fourth with a score of 80: Arby's, Chipotle, Papa John's and Pizza Hut. Other popular chains scored much lower. 3 in the industry behind McDonald's and Starbucks, according to Nation's Restaurant News.

Warren introduces new election security plan
Read full article: Warren introduces new election security planAlex Wong/Getty Images(CNN) - Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday released a new election security and voter fraud protection plan aimed to "secure our elections from all threats, foreign and domestic." "Our elections should be as secure as Fort Knox," the senator from Massachusetts wrote in a Medium post outlining the multi-pronged plan. Warren's plan calls for "state-of-the-art" federal voting machines, uniform ballots and a "security firewall" to protect voter information. Warren's plan would also designate election day as a holiday along with new "federal standards" for automatic and same-day registration, early voting and vote by mail. Additionally, the plan would allocate money from the federal government to individual states for new voting equipment and election security protocols along with new "federal standards" for state elections.